SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                          ----------------------------

                                    Form 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF
                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 12, 2001


                               99(CENT)ONLY STORES
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)



             California                  1-11735                 95-2411605
    (State or Other Jurisdiction       (Commission             (IRS Employer
         of Incorporation)            File Number)          Identification No.)


                         4000 East Union Pacific Avenue
                       City of Commerce, California 90023
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                                 (323) 980-8145
                         (Registrant's Telephone Number)





ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     Reference is made to the press release of Registrant, issued on March 12,
2002, which contains information meeting the requirements of this Item 5, and
which are incorporated herein by this reference. A copy of this press release is
attached to this Form 8-K as Exhibit 99.1.


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                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


March 25, 2002                              99(cent)ONLY STORES


                                            By:   /S/ ERIC SCHIFFER
                                               --------------------------------
                                                 Eric Schiffer
                                                 President


                                     Page 3



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBITS

99.1           Press Release dated March 12, 2002.



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